Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
Barnwell City Council now has a female majority after the November 2023 election. Pictured from left: Alicia Davis, Jana Black Myers, Wanda Highsmith, and Peggy Kinlaw.
Barnwell City Council: (top row, from left) Jana Black Myers, Louis T. Claytor III, Wanda Highsmith; (bottom row, from left) Alicia Davis, Mayor Ron Still, and Peggy Kinlaw.
A majority female council now represents the City of Barnwell. This is the first time in the city’s history where women will be filling four of the council’s seven seats.
Councilmembers Alicia Davis of District 3 and Peggy Kinlaw of District 2 set the precedent for women serving in the city after their elections in 2020. Now, just over three years later, they are joined by two newly-elected representatives – Wanda Highsmith for District 4 and Jana Black Myers for District 6, who were sworn in on Jan. 8.
“Prior to 2020, the City of Barnwell was governed by a council of men which provided a limited point of view. The previous composition was not inclusive and was not indicative of the make-up of the city,” said Davis, who feels grateful to have been a part of implementing change. “Being a member of a majority women council will provide the opportunity to hear new ideas from a different perspective.”
“A little over three years ago there had never been a woman on council in Barnwell’s history. I would say that this is progress and a giant leap in history for the women of Barnwell,” said Kinlaw.
Both Davis and Kinlaw were sworn into a council operated by men since the city’s creation in the early 1800s, and started campaigns after their district’s predecessor passed away. Davis was first elected in September 2020, completing the term of the late Reverend Harrie T. ‘Harris’ Barker, and Kinlaw in October 2020 filling the seat of the late W.C. Black.
“The new council make-up is monumental, and I am grateful and blessed to have led the charge in this direction,” said Davis, who also is the first Black woman to hold a seat on council.
Then-Mayor Marcus Rivera motioned to the pictures of previous councils hanging on the wall at the Dec. 4, 2023 council meeting, “before, if you look at these pictures it was a room full of hard-headed men. Leadership needs to look like your community.”
Not only will the council have a new perspective and more accurately represent the city’s citizens, but will bring in new ideas and connections as each new elect does.
“It is historic and it’s a change. I believe there will be a different take on the issues and needs of Barnwell as well as getting things done, especially when it comes to dressing up the city. But there will definitely be a more unique observation than there has been in the past,” said Jana Black Myers.
Myers is the daughter of Danny Black, CEO and president of Southern Carolina Alliance (SCA), a regional development alliance linking government and industry to bring implementing state and federal funding into local areas.
Myers is filling the seat previously held by Ryan Bragg, and ran a campaign on priorities such as housing availability, bringing commercial/entertainment, lowering taxes, and utilizing resources effectively.
Although she worked outside of Barnwell after high school in areas like Florida and Tennessee, she returned to the city to make her homebase a better place for the next generation and be closer to family. She currently works remotely for an information technology company based out of Florida and lives in District 6 with her husband and two daughters.
“I always say girls can do anything. Having the opportunity for my daughters to see me in this position means the world to me and I hope it will inspire them in the future,” said Myers.
Women serving in positions of power began in the late 1800s and early 1900s across the country. In 1888, Oskaloosa, Kansas became the first town in the U.S. to have an all-women government.
In 2020, S.C. Women in Leadership reported a total of 302 women won election or re-election in S.C. – meaning that over half of the women who ran for office during that election cycle were victorious.
The following year 84 women won seats in municipal elections across the state, and in 2022, 119 women were elected in the midterms. More recently, in 2023 municipal elections 200 women were elected out of 338 who campaigned.
Wanda Highsmith won the race in District 4 against incumbent Jimbo Moody.
"Thanks for trusting me to represent you. I am humbled,” said Highsmith at her first council meeting.
Highsmith is a lifelong Barnwell County resident and a career respiratory therapist. She ran her campaign on points such as economic development, housing, and community health.
“We need to figure out a way to attract and keep industry,” Highsmith told The People-Sentinel in an interview late last year.
Due to her career in healthcare, Highsmith also aims to attract more specialty doctors and services to Barnwell so citizens do not have to travel or find transportation to access care.
"I hope to see young girls and women from all walks of life participate in politics. Representation matters. Always be a voice indecisions that will affect your life," said Highsmith.
Kinlaw, Davis, Myers, and Highsmith all hope their service on council will inspire women and girls to get involved in local government and strive to achieve their personal goals.
“It will take young ladies being exposed to government functions and making them aware of how important it is for women to be a part of the process,” said Kinlaw.
“I have always felt that women should have a voice in government. We need diversity of thought and women have a different perspective than men. But at the end of the day, whether male or female, what is most important is that each council member makes the best decision for the citizens of Barnwell,” said Kinlaw.
The 2020 election was not only historic with two women being elected to council and Davis being the first Black woman on council, but Mayor Rivera was the first Black man to serve as mayor.
“Over the past five years, the city council has had several historic milestones,” said new Mayor Ron Still, who was sworn in on Jan. 8. “The City of Barnwell elected our first Black mayor, Marcus Rivera. Next, the citizens elected their first two female council members, Alicia Davis and Peggy Kinlaw. Now, for the first time, the council will have a female majority. I am very excited to be a part of this history making. I am looking forward to joining this team and working for the citizens of Barnwell.”
The City of Barnwell is not the only local municipality with majority women elected to their council. The City of Aiken’s council also had women-dominated election results last November, with Teddy Milner being voted in as mayor in an August run-off election.
